Commerce denies export privileges to Al Naser Airlines

According to the denial order, the Iraq-based carrier sought to acquire for Mahan Air at least two Airbus aircraft that were located in the United States.    The U.S. Commerce Department’s Bureau of Industry and Security issued an order denying the export privileges of Al Naser Airlines, Bahar Safwa General Trading, and Ali Abdullah Alhay for attempting to illegally export civilian aircraft to Iran in violation of the Export Administration Regulations.
   In addition, the Treasury Department designated Iraq-based Al-Naser Airlines, Syrian businessman Issam Shammout, and his U.A.E.-based Sky Blue Bird Aviation a counter-terrorism authority, pursuant to Executive Order 13224. These entities and individual were sanctioned for providing support to Iran’s Mahan Air.
   According to the denial order, Al Naser Airlines sought to acquire for Mahan Air at least two Airbus aircraft that were located in the United States. Ali Abdullah Alhay, a 25 percent owner of Al Naser Airlines who was acting on its behalf, signed a letter of intent for the planes, as well as subsequent sales agreements. Payments were wired from the account of Bahar Safwa General Trading of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, an entity suspected of acting as a front company for Mahan, BIS said.
   Agents from the BIS Office of Export Enforcement stopped the two aircraft prior to their export from the United States. Media reports indicate Al Naser Airlines continues its attempts to buy commercial aircraft for Mahan Air, the agency said.
   Mahan Air has been subject to a temporary denial order since 2008 that has been repeatedly renewed, most recently in January 2015 for its continued efforts to evade U.S. export law.